Computer Fireworks Celebration Kit
Original title: Complete Computer Fireworks Celebration Kit, The
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
_________________________

The Fireworks Celebration Kit was released in 1985 by Activision. It was programmed by John van Ryzin with music by Stephen Gaboury. You control the fireworks with your joystick plugged into port 1 on your Commodore 64.

While both videogame consoles and home computers allowed owners to play videogames, home computers also gave creative kids and adults the ability to create their own. Through BASIC and other languages, home computer owners were able to create their own games. Unfortunately, many young programmers found out the hard way that creating a game from scratch was rather difficult. 

Out of this need, a new genre was born — the “construction kit.” The first one I remember seeing was Electronic Arts’ “Pinball Construction Set,” a program that allowed budding programmers to place bumpers at will and create their own virtual pinball tables. Pinball Construction Set would soon be followed by Arcade Game Construction Kit, Adventure Contruction Set, Shoot-Em-Up Contruction Kit and Wargame Construction Set. All of these programs greatly simplified the process of creating your own programs by managing the majority of the code, allowing young game makers to focus on things like graphics, sound and gameplay. 

One of the weirder additions to the “construction kit” genre was Activision’s “Complete Computer Fireworks Celebration Kit.” Dubbed “the fireworks construction kit” by gamers, Activision’s 1985 release allowed users to create their own virtual firework displays. Seriously. The Complete Computer Fireworks Celebration Kit (CCFCK) was written by Jon van Ryzin, the same man that wrote H.E.R.O. 

Like any other “construction kit” program, CCFCK offers a multitude of options that allows virtual fireworks maestros the ability to customize every part of their display. Users can choose one of six backdrops (a bridge, a city, a castle, etc) and from a list of twenty songs, from The Star Spangled Banner to Happy Birthday. The program is compatible with Music Studio, so custom songs can also be imported. The fireworks displays also include text messages displayed at the bottom of the screen which can be customized as well. 

And then there are the fireworks. There are several different types of fireworks than can be used, and each one can be modified using sliders, giving users the ability to alter each fireworks size, color, speed, and so on. The sliders, like every other part of the program, are controlled using a standard joystick. CCFCK requires very little keyboard interaction (other than the custom display messages users can enter).

Each event is ultimately stored on a vertically-scrolling event list. Each entry can be changed, inserted or removed. With enough time and effort, a person could theoretically synch their fireworks display up with the background music.

Once your masterpiece has been completed it can be saved to disk, where it can be reloaded or traded amongst friends (assuming they also own the program — from what I can tell, the saved firework displays are not stand alone executables).

---

Description from the packaging:

Each package contains all this

A program disk with a simple, easy-to-read menu allowing you to create the most ambitious displays in no time at all. 

A full library of holiday and special event songs that allow you to enhance displays by adding terrific music. 

Nine different pre-programmed displays including Birthday, Christmas, Graduation, Father's Day, Mother's Day, Get Well Soon and Party Invitations. 

A special blank disk for you to copy your personal electronic greeting. 

A customized disk mailer to let you send your creation safely to anyone you choose. 

The Complete Computer Fireworks Celebration Kit lets you express special feelings in a unique new way. Or just celebrate your own creativity. It's one of the most original, truly innovative programs on the market today. 

And doesn't that make it just right for you? 
Hundreds of options. 
Holiday greetings. 
Spectacular fireworks. 

Party invitations.


http://www.review-o-matic.com/?p=71
